Alan la Zouche, 1st Baron la Zouche of Ashby

Alan la Zouche, 1st Baron la Zouche of Ashby (October 9, 1267 – March 25, 1314) was born at North Molton, the son of Roger La Zouche and his wife, Ela Longespee, daughter of Maurice Fitz Maurice and Emeline Longespee. He received seisin of his father's lands after doing homage on October 13, 1289. Alan was governor of Rockingham Castle and steward of Rockingham Forest, England. Alan La Zouche died without any sons shortly before at the age of 46, and his barony fell into abeyance among his daughters.

Military service

Alan was in Gascony with King Edward I of England in October 1288, when he was one of the hostages given by the king to Alfonso of Aragon for the fulfillment of certain agreements. He was in Scotland in the King's service in June of 1291. In April 1294 he had a writ of protection from the King when he travelled overseas with the King's daughter, Eleanor of Bar. He served in Gascony in 1295 and 1296, and was present at the action around Bordeaux on March 28, 1296, when his standard bearer was captured by the French. In 1297 he was summoned for service in Flanders, and attended Councils in Rochester and London in that year.

War against the Scots

He was summoned for service against the Scots in 1297-1313. He fought in the Vanguard at the Battle of Falkirk on July 22, 1298. King Edward's army at that battle consisted of 12,000 infantry, including 10,000 Welsh, and 2,000 cavalry. William Wallace, the Scottish leader accepted battle in a withdrawn defensive position. Wallace had few cavalry and few archers; but his solid "schiltrons" (circles) of spearmen were almost invincible. The armoured cavalry of the English vanguard were hurled back with severe losses. Edward brought up his Welsh archers in the intervals between the horsemen of the second line, concentrating their arrows on specific points in the Scottish schiltrons. It was into these gaps that the English knights forced their way, and once the Scottish order was broken the spearmen were quickly massacred. Alan was at the siege of Caerlaverock in July 1300. His part was described in Nicholas' "Siege of Carlaverock":

:Aleyn de la Souche tresor Signiioit ke fust brians
Sa rouge baniere a besans
Car bienscai ki a dependu Tresor plus ke en burce pendu

He was summoned to Edward II's coronation on January 18, 1307/08. In December of that year he had a protection to go on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. He was the Constable of Rockingham Castle and the Keeper of the forests between the bridges of Oxford and Stamford.

Marriage and issue

He married Eleanor Segrave, daughter of Sir Nicholas Segrave, 1st Baron Segrave. They had the following daughters:

*Elena
*Maud, married Robert de Holland, 1st Baron Holand
*Elizabeth

References

* "The Royal Ancestry Bible Royal Ancestors of 300 Colonial American Families" by Michel L. Call (chart 27) ISBN 1-933194-22-7
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* [http://www.thepeerage.com/p469.htm#i4684 thePeerage.com]